Picking fractal images for these posts is often a problematic thing. I have to find an image with something, anything that relates to the topic at hand. This post, a review of Ratatouille, the new animated movie from Pixar, proved to be particularly difficult. In the end I finally chose an image called Bastille Day since it was the only remotely “French” thing I had in my catalog.
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I often comment that animated features are movies for kids that their parents will enjoy. In the case of Ratatouille, this is a movie for adults that kids will enjoy as well. It is the story of Remy (voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt), a young sewer rat in Paris with gourmet dreams. He meets and teams up with Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano--in his first-ever acting gig) a “Garbage Boy” who has just come to work at Gusteau’s--formerly one of the finest restaurants in Paris. The restaurant has fallen on hard times since the death of the owner. The “ghost“ of Gusteau (ably voiced by Brad Garret) encourages Remy to pursue his dreams while young Linguini romances Colette, the only female in Gusteau’s kitchen (Jeanine Garafalo gives voices to this tough chick: you don‘t hear even a hint of her natural “Chicago“ accent.) Evil midget (is there any other kind of the screen?) Chef Skinner (voiced by British Actor Ian Holm) has hijacked Gusteau’s name and likeness to hawk a line of frozen foods. John Ratzenberger (who I think is contractually obligated to be in every Pixar movie) shows up a the Head Waiter. Food Critic Anton Ego (Peter O‘Toole in some of his best work) shows up to “kick it up a notch” (if I may steal Emeril Legassi’s favorite line). There’s lots of slapstick comedy and action with a dash of romance and the requisite happy ending (even though it’s not the one you might expect).
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Ratatouille is a love-letter to fine dining and the city of Paris. Food, whether animated or photographed, has never looked better. The Pixar crew spent time in a fine restaurant so all the details of cooking and serving are carefully observed and shown on screen. Some of the “rats-eye views” are photo-realistic and the rest of the “world” has a timeless quality that is both fun and quirky and romantic. The script perfectly balances action, comedy and romance and maintains its own completely-believable “reality” throughout. Some scenes are too “talky” and complicated for young children but older kids follow the plot but this is definitely an animated movie for adults.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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I often comment that animated features are movies for kids that their parents will enjoy. In the case of Ratatouille, this is a movie for adults that kids will enjoy as well. It is the story of Remy (voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt), a young sewer rat in Paris with gourmet dreams. He meets and teams up with Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano--in his first-ever acting gig) a “Garbage Boy” who has just come to work at Gusteau’s--formerly one of the finest restaurants in Paris. The restaurant has fallen on hard times since the death of the owner. The “ghost“ of Gusteau (ably voiced by Brad Garret) encourages Remy to pursue his dreams while young Linguini romances Colette, the only female in Gusteau’s kitchen (Jeanine Garafalo gives voices to this tough chick: you don‘t hear even a hint of her natural “Chicago“ accent.) Evil midget (is there any other kind of the screen?) Chef Skinner (voiced by British Actor Ian Holm) has hijacked Gusteau’s name and likeness to hawk a line of frozen foods. John Ratzenberger (who I think is contractually obligated to be in every Pixar movie) shows up a the Head Waiter. Food Critic Anton Ego (Peter O‘Toole in some of his best work) shows up to “kick it up a notch” (if I may steal Emeril Legassi’s favorite line). There’s lots of slapstick comedy and action with a dash of romance and the requisite happy ending (even though it’s not the one you might expect).
-
Ratatouille is a love-letter to fine dining and the city of Paris. Food, whether animated or photographed, has never looked better. The Pixar crew spent time in a fine restaurant so all the details of cooking and serving are carefully observed and shown on screen. Some of the “rats-eye views” are photo-realistic and the rest of the “world” has a timeless quality that is both fun and quirky and romantic. The script perfectly balances action, comedy and romance and maintains its own completely-believable “reality” throughout. Some scenes are too “talky” and complicated for young children but older kids follow the plot but this is definitely an animated movie for adults.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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